Compact



June 27, 1961 A. B. GELLMAN COMPACT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18,1958 ENTOR.

1' if Q A. B. GELLMAN COMPACT June 27, 1961 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Sept.18, 1958 m m M June 27, 1961 A. B. GELLMAN 2,990,054

COMPACT Filed Sept. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 3/ 3 4w 2 ll l llr 4/0INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 2,990,054 'COMPACT Allen B. Gellman, Elgin AmericanInc 853 Dundee Ave., Glencoe, ll]. Filed Sept. 18, 1958, Ser. No.761,768 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-37) This invention relates to power holdingcompacts and the like. V I

Because of the highly competitive nature of the compact case art, asimple and economically constructed, positive and readily operable catchstructure has been an important factor therein. Numerous catchstructures have been developed over the years for use in such compactcases; however, heretofore, none has completely satisfactorily combinedthe above discussed desirable features.

Another problem encountered in the compact art for which no completelysatisfactory answer has heretofore been found, is the provision of meansfor removing a spent pressed powder cup from a refillable compact. Thisproblem is particularly vexatious tothe user as removal of the spentpowder cup in the known compacts often results in powder being spilledonto the person or over the surrounding area.

The principal feature of the instant invention is the provision of newand improved compact means resolving the above indicated problems.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of compact meanshaving new and improved latch means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of new and improvedcompact means arranged for removal 7 of a replaceable powder cuptherefrom.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such compactmeans havingimproved means for indicating desirable information.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a compactmeans having new and improved latch means and powder cup removing meansco-ordinated to preclude inadvertent removal of the powder cup.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawingwherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a compact embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevation thereof in a closedarrangement;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view looking at the inside of the cover showingthe catch means thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view looking at the inside of the shell showingthe catch means thereof;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the compact with a portion of the shellbroken away;

FIG. 7 is a vertical diametric section, with the cover in the openposition and a portion thereof shown in elevation;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 7 illustrating theremoval of the powder cup from the shell;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating another modification of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of a compact means havinga modified form of powder cup removal means;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view illustrating still another modification ofthe invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 13, but with thepowder cake in a partially removed disposition;

ice

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating yet anothermodification of the invention; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view illustrating a still further modificationof the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in FIGSJlthrough 8 of the drawings, a compact generally designated 10 is shown tocomprise a cup-shaped shell 11 and a complementary cup-shaped cover 12movably secured to the shell by a hinge means 13. Removably installed inshell 11 is a powder cup 14 holding a cake 15 of pressed powder for freeaccessibility when the cover is swung upwardly away from the shell.

New and improved means are provided for releasably latching the cover tothe shell. The latching means comprises a first catch means 16 formed ina front portion 17 of the peripheral, upstanding wall 18 of shell 11,and a second catch means 19 formed in a front portion 20 of theperipheral depending wall 21 of cover 12.

First catch means 16 is formed integrally with wall portion 17 andincludes a first or thumbpiece portion 22 projecting upwardly andoutwardly from wall portion 17, a midportion 23 extending fromthumbpiece portion 22 inwardly of cover wall portion 20, and a hookedend portion 24 extending outwardly from mid-portion 23. Second catchmeans 19 comprises an inwardly extending rib 25 defining an inwardlyextending shoulder 26 facing away from shell 11 when cover 12 is closedon the shell. Rib 25 extends inwardly beyond the outermost portion ofhook end 24 so that when the cover is closed on the shell, end 24 snapsoutwardly over rib 25 to latch against shoulder 26. Associated withsecond catch means 19 is a guide 27 arranged to be engaged by thelateral edges 22a of thumbpiece 22 to preclude undesired lateralmovement of wall portion 20 relative to wall portion 17 and, thus,maintain proper alignment of the cover and shell. More specifically,guide 27 comprises an inwardly bowed bridge 27a formed integrally incover wall portion 20, the end portions 28 of which are spaced slightlygreater than the lateral extent of thumbpiece 22.

As used herein, the term inwardly is defined as in a direction towardthe mid-portion of the space defined by the compact shell or cover, theterm outwardly is defined as away therefrom, and the term laterallyisdefined as in the directions of lateral extent of the wall portions 17and 20 (to the right or left as seen in FIG. 2).

To release catch means 16 from engagement with shoulder 26 of catchmeans 19, thumbpiece portion 22 is urged inwardly, as by the usersthumb. To facilitate this releasing action and, at the same time,effectively preclude a tendency to cause lateral movement between thecompact shell and cover during the releasing operation, the catch means16 and 19 are made to have a substantial lateral extent, preferablycomparable to the width of a persons thumb. Further, the thtunbpieceportion 22 extends substantially above the shell wall 18 providing animproved resilient yieldability to permit the desired disengagement ofthe catch means.

As alluded to briefly above, powder cake 15 is provided in a cup 14permitting ready removal and replacement thereofin compact 10 asdesired. Such replacement may be effected to refill the compact when thepowder cake thereof has been spent; or alternatively, a plurality ofdifferent powder cakes having different shades or textures may beutilized, one at a time, in a single compact as desired by the user.More specifically, powder cup 14 comprises a cup-shaped member in whichpowder cake 15 is permanently retained. The powder cup 14 is slightlysmaller than shell 11 to permit the cup to be received and fixedlyretained therein. To facilitate the removal of the powder cup 14 fromshell 11 when desired, the bottom wall to extend therethrough, as seenin FIG. 8. The portion 30 of the bottom wall 31 of powder cup 14, whichis accessible through opening 29a, herein comprises a boss complementaryto opening 290 and projecting downwardly from bottom 31 of the powdercup through the opening. As shown in FIG. 3, boss 30 may terminate flushwith the outside surface of the shell bottom wall 29; it should beunderstood, however, that the invention comprehends such cup structureswherein the boss terminates other than flush with said bottom.

Means for indicating desirable information, such as the brand and shadeof powder in cup 14, is provided in the form of an indicia element orlabel 32 secured to the outer surface of boss portion 30 of the cupmember. The indicia element is legible at all times, eliminating thenecessity of opening the compact in order to obtain information as tothe type of powder cake installed therein.

As the users finger may engage a substantial area of the powder cup, arelatively high frictional retaining force may be employed to secure thecup in shell 11. Thus, inadvertent removal of the cup from the shell,such as occurs in the known refillable compact devices, is effectivelyprecluded. In addition, the catch means 16 assists in the retention ofthe powder cup in shell 11. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8,mid-portion 23 of catch 16 extends inwardly to overlie the forwardportion of the powder cup and prevents a separation of the cup from theshell by movement upwardly away from shell bottom wall 29.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified form of compact 110 in which the side wallof boss portion 130 of the bottom of powder pan 114 is provided with astep 135 which seats on a peripheral portion 136 of the bottom 129 ofshell 111, surrounding opening 129a. This interengagement limits theamount by which the center portion of powder pan 114 may be insertedinto shell 111, properly positioning the pan in the shell. FIG. 10illustrates another modified form of compact 210 in which a shell 211 isprovided with an upwardly extending flange 237 surrounding an opening229a and engaging the bottom wall 231 of the powder pan for properlypositioning the pan in the shell.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, still another modified form of c0n1 pact 316i isshown to be provided with a small elongated opening 329a in the bottom329 of the shell 311 thereof. Opening 329a is juxtaposed to theperiphery of bottom wall 329 adjacent hinge 313. As best seen in FIG.11, opening 32% comprises a circular mid-portion 32% and laterallyextending elongated portions 3290. Midportion 32% is adapted to permitthe passing of a cylindrical element 340 (FIG. 12), such as a pinhead,therethrough for engaging the bottom wall 331 of the powder cup to urgethe powder cup upwardly from the shell 311 when desired. Alignedelongated portions 3290 are arranged to permit the insertion of a bladeelement (not shown), such as a nail file or the like, therethrough toeffect a similar removal of the powder cup.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, another modified form of compact 410 is shown to beprovided with an imperforate shell bottom wall 429 which is bowedoutwardly. A pad 441 is secured to bottom wall 429 to extend upwardlytherefrom into engagement with the bottom wall 431 of the powder cup. Toeffect a removal of the powder cup from shell 411, shell bottom wall 429is pressed inwardly, as by the users thumb, to the position of FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 illustrates another modification of the invention in which animperforate bottom wall 529 of a compact 510 i provided with anupstanding annular deformation 542 disposed concentrically of thedepending boss portion 530 of the cup membe Deformation 542 provides forincreased ease of movement of the mid-portion 543 of the bottom wall529, facilitating the removal of the powder cup from the shell by theupward urging thereof by the users thumb.

In FIG. 16, an imperforate bottom wall 629 of a compact 610 is providedwith a central upstanding deformation 644. Bottom wall 629 is bowedsimilarly to bottom wall 429 of compact 410 and deformation 644functions similarly to pad 441 in effecting the desired movement of thepowder cup from the shell when the bottom wall is pressed inwardly.

The disclosed compact means provide improved functioning relative-to thelatching of the cover to the shell and relative to the replaceability ofthe powder cakes therein. The cover is positively latched closed merelyby swinging it on hinge 13 to the position of FIG. 3 wherein shell catchend 24 is automatically snapped into retaining engagement Withcover.catch shoulder 26. To open the compact, the user merely presses buttonportion 22 which, by virutre of its substantial lateral extent, readilyeifects a separation of the catch end 24 from shoulder 26, permittingthe cover to be swung upwardly for access to the powder cake 15. Anautomatic guiding action is effected by the catch means precludinglateral movement thereof during the opening and closing operations andwhen the compact is closed, preventing twisting or deformation of binge13.

The replacement of powder cakes 15 in the compacts 10, and 210 iseffected quickly and cleanly by the insertion of the users fingerthrough the large opening in the shell bottom wall to overcome thefrictional retention of the powder cup in the shell and move it upwardlytherefrom, as seen in FIG. 8. In compact 310, the removal of the powdercup is effected by readily available means such as a pin or nail file.In compacts 410, 510 and 610, flexing of an imperforate bottom wall ofthe shell elfects the desired removal of the powder cup. The replacementpowder cake is installed in each of the disclosed compacts merely byinsertion thereof into the shell whereupon the replacement powder cakeis retained positively in the compact until desired removal thereof iseffected by the user.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement thereof may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, a coverprovided with a peripheral, depending wall aligned and substantiallycongruent with said shell Wall and having a portion defining a second,complementary. catch means, one of said catch means comprising aninwardly extending rib, and the other of said catch means projecting toinwardly of said rib and having a hooked end snapping outwardly oversaid rib when the cover is closed on said shell, and means associatedwith said one of said catch means to define side guides extending fromthe end of the wall provided with said one catch means and engageable bythe other catch means to guide said other catch means to the lockingposition and preclude undesired movement of the other catch means in thedirections of lateral extent of said wall portions.

2. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, and acover provided with a peripheral, depending Wall aligned andsubstantially congruent with said shell wall and having a portiondefining a second, complementary catch means, one of said catch meanscomprising a fiat shoulder facing away from the upper end of the shellwall when the cover is closed on the shell, and the other of said catchmeans projecting to inwardly of said shoulder and having a hooked endsnapping outwardly over said shoulder when the cover is closed on saidshell.

3. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, and acover provided with a peripheral,

depending wall aligned and substantially congruent with said shell walland having a portion defining a second, complementary catch means, oneof said catch means comprising a fiat shoulder facing away from theupper end of the shell wall when the cover is closed on the shell, andthe other of said catch means having a first portion extending outwardlyfrom the wall, a thumbpiece extending upwardly from the first portion, amid-portion extending from said thumbpiece inwardly of said shoulder,and a hooked end portion extending outwardly from said mid-portion andsnapping over said shoulder when the cover is closed on said shell.

4. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, a coverprovided with a peripheral, depending wall aligned and substantiallycongruent with said shell wall and having a portion defining a second,complementary catch means, one of said catch means comprising ashoulder, the other of said catch means comprising a projectionextending inwardly of said one catch means and having a hooked endsnapping outwardly over said shoulder when the cover is closed on saidshell, and a guide adjacent said one of said catch means comprising aninwardly bowed bridge having ends engageable by the opposite sides ofthe other catch means to preclude undesired movement of the other catchmeans in the directions of lateral extent of said wall Portions.

5. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, and acover provided with a peripheral, depending wall aligned andsubstantially congruent with said shell wall and having a portiondefining a second, complementary catch means, one of said catch meanscomprising an inwardly extending rib, and the other of said catch meanscomprising a projection having a resilient yieldability greater thanthat of the wall on which it is provided extending to inwardly of saidrib and having a hooked end slidable against said rib to snap outwardlyover said rib when the cover is closed on said shell, said other of saidcatch means further including means for manually moving said hooked endinwardly of said shoulder when desired to permit disengagement of saidcatch means.

6. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, a coverprovided with a peripheral, depending wall aligned and substantiallycongruent with said shell wall and having a portion defining a second,complementary catch means, one of said catch means comprising aninwardly extending shoulder, and the other of said catch meansprojecting to inwardly of said shoulder and having a hooked end snappingoutwardly over said shoulder when the cover is closed on said shell, anda thumbpiece formed integrally with said other of said catch means formoving the same inwardly of the shoulder when desired, each of saidshoulder, hooked end and thumbpiece having a lateral extentsubstantially equal to the width of a persons thumb.

7. Compact means comprising a shell provided with a peripheral,upstanding wall having a portion defining a first catch means, a coverprovided with a peripheral, depending wall aligned with said shell walland having a portion defining a second, complementary catch means, oneof said catch means comprising an inwardly extending rib, and the otherof said catch means projecting to beyond the end of the wall on which itis carried and to inwardly of said rib and having a hooked end snappingoutwardly over said rib when the cover is closed on said shell, meansassociated with said one of said catch means to define side guidesengageable by the other catch means to preclude undesired movement ofthe other catch means in the directions of lateral extent of said wallportions, said shell having an opening; a powder pan removably retainedin the shell and having a portion projecting into said opening movablethrough said opening by a persons finger to remove the pan from saidshell.

8. Compact means comprising: a cup-shaped shell having an opening in thebottom thereof sutficiently large to permit a persons finger to extendthereinto, said shell being provided with an upwardly extending flangesurrounding said opening; and a powder pan removably retained in saidshell and having a bottom juxtaposed to the shell bottom and including aportion complementary to and projecting through said opening, saidportion being movable through said opening by the persons finger toremove the pan from said shell, said shell and pan having interengagingsurfaces which limit the depth of insertion of said pan bottomprojecting portion into said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,643,944 Cook Oct. 4, 1927 1,700,059 Kendall Jan. 22, 1929 1,794,301Kendall Feb. Q4, 1931 2,829,765 Burger Apr. 8, 1958 2,919,703 PinteauIan. 5, 1950

